Ms. Melvoin, Mark Brown, Lisa Coleman, Bobby Z, and "Doctor" Fink recorded the popular album "Purple Rain" among other works with Prince, who died on April 21. All also appeared in the movie of the same name.

Prince's recent and unexpected passing has inspired various musical tributes from other artists, from country singer Chris Stapleton performing the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U" during a recent concert, to singer D'Angelo, actress Maya Rudolph, and singer Gretchen Lieberum performing the song "Sometimes It Snows in April" in honor of the musician on NBC's "The Tonight Show." (Ms. Rudolph and Ms. Lieberum perform Prince songs as the group Princess.)

Will reunion concerts without Prince in the leadership spot be able deliver a satisfying concert to legions of mourning fans? They will likely not disappoint.

NPR writer Jason King notes the racial and gender diversity of The Revolution, the members of which were selected by Prince. "Prince also deserves recognition for creating multi-gender, multi-racial bands like the Revolution and the New Power Generation," Mr. King writes. "In so doing, he offered us a nonconformist ideal that could serve as reprieve from neo-conservatism's racial homogenization and from the persistent threat of social marginalization."